Non-Pyrotechnic Explosive Device Simulator

ABSTRACT

An explosive device simulator system has a housing in the shape of an explosive device. The simulator includes a sound producing system inside the housing. A light producing system inside the housing receives an actuation signal from a trigger system. The trigger system may include a microcontroller, which can be used to include a delay between a trigger event and the actuation signal. The simulator may include a smoke producing system that includes a powder that is dispersed by a gas generator. The powder exits the housing through a number of vents. A cordite odor substance may be included in the powder to provide a realistic smell of an exploded device. A light producing system provides the flash of a real explosive device and is connected to the microcontroller.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority on provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/204,060, filed on Dec. 31, 2008, entitled “Nitrogen InertGas Encapsulated Loadable Inflator Gas Generator Powered BattlefieldSimulators” and Ser. No. 61/237,730, filed on Aug. 28, 2009, entitled“Non-Pyrotechnic Training Hand Grenade” are hereby incorporated byreference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Explosion simulators have been used in numerous military and commercialapplications, such as military training, intrusion alarms, diversiondevices (stun grenades), bird repelling noisemakers and stage effects.The military has employed explosion simulators during tacticalengagement training to simulate explosions. For such militaryapplications, explosion simulators generate bang, smoke, and flash cuesin response to electrical signals from an electronic scoring system.During engagement training, the explosion simulators warn nearby unitsof an attack and indicate the strike locations of the artillery roundsto the attacking forces. Unfortunately, none of the present explosionsimulators are useful in simulating improvised explosive devices (IEDs)that are a preferred method of attacking our troops in Iraq andAfghanistan. In addition, none of the present explosive simulatorsprovide a realistic smelling device, unless they use pyrotechnic devicesthat are dangerous. Similarly, realistic sounding explosive simulatorshave only been possible when pyrotechnic devices are used. Many of theexplosion simulators being used by the military and civilian market arenot reusable and are therefore expensive.

It is thus apparent that a need exits for a non-pyrotechnic explosiondevice simulator that is inexpensive, provides realistic sound and smellwithout using pyrotechnic devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A system that overcomes these and other problems includes a housinghaving a shape of an explosive device. A sound generator system islocated inside the housing. A smoke producing system is also locatedinside the housing. The sound producing system is synchronized with thesound generating system. A light producing system is connected to thehousing.

A non-pyrotechnic military device simulator has a housing with a shapethat imitates an explosive device. A gas generator is encased in thehousing. An electronic actuator controls the gas generator. The housinghas a number of vents.

A non-pyrotechnic explosive device simulator has a housing with theshape of an explosive device. A gas generator is enclosed in thehousing. A powder is contained in the housing. A number of vents are inthe housing, wherein the powder is ejected from the vents when the gasgenerator expels gas.

A non-pyrotechnic explosive apparatus simulator includes a housing withthe shape of an explosive device. A light producing system is attachedto the housing and includes a number of lights that strobe at apredetermined rate. A trigger system transmits an actuation signal tothe light producing system when a trigger is received.

The non-pyrotechnic device is reusable, therefore reducing the cost ofusing the simulator. A cordite smelling substance is added to the powderand provides a realistic smell of an explosive device. A realistic soundis provided by an audio chamber or structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional block diagram view of a non-pyrotechnicexplosive device simulator system in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional block diagram view of military devicesimulator in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a non-pyrotechnic explosive devicein accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is across sectional view of a non-pyrotechnic explosive apparatusin accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An explosive device simulator system has a housing in the shape of anexplosive device. The simulator includes a sound producing system insidethe housing. A light producing system inside the housing receives anactuation signal from a trigger system. The trigger system may include amicrocontroller, which can be used to include a delay between a triggerevent and the actuation signal. The simulator may include a smokeproducing system that includes a powder that is dispersed by a gasgenerator. The powder exits the housing through a number of vents. Acordite odor substance may be included in the powder to provide arealistic smell of an exploded device. A light producing system providesthe flash of a real explosive device and is connected to themicrocontroller. Except for the powder and odor producing substance, thedevice is reusable reducing the cost of operating the system. The gasgenerator also needs to be recharged. This simulator system allows for arealistic training device that is inexpensive to operate and by changingthe housing can simulate numerous devices. Note as used hereinnon-pyrotechnic means that no flames are generated as part of activatingthe device.

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional block diagram view of a non-pyrotechnicexplosive device simulator system 10 in accordance with one embodimentof the invention. The system 10 has a housing 12 having a shape similarto a land mine. The system 10 includes a trigger system 14. The triggersystem 14 is connected to a microcontroller or microprocessor 16 in oneembodiment. The microcontroller 16 sends an actuation signal to a soundgenerating system 18. A smoke producing system 20 is synchronized withthe sound generating system 18. The smoke generating system 20 is incommunication 21 with a plurality of vents 23. The vents 23 are locatedin the housing 12. A light producing system 22 is also synchronized withthe sound generating system 18. In one embodiment, an odor producingsystem 24 is connected with the smoke producing system 20. The lightproducing system 12 controls a plurality of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)26 in one embodiment. The LEDs 26 are attached to the outside of thehousing 12. In one embodiment, the LED 26 strobe at a predeterminedrate. Strobing the LEDs provides a more realistic visual effect of howan explosion is perceived by a user. The strobe rate is six hertz in oneembodiment.

The trigger system 14 may be mechanical, such as a pressure trigger ormay be an electronic trigger. A pressure trigger might be used with landmine simulator device, while and electronic trigger may be used with animprovised explosive device (IED). The electronic trigger may beactuated by a cellular telephone, an optical signal, a switch, etc.

In one embodiment, the microcontroller 16 is used to sense a triggerevent and then delay an actuation signal to the sound generating system18, light producing system 22, and smoke producing system 20. Anapplication for this delay is a training hand grenade.

The light producing system 12 generates a strobe signal that is appliedto the lights 26. The lights 26 light up the powder from the smokeproducing system 20 to create a realistic looking explosion. The odorproducing system is just a chemical that smells like cordite or otherexplosive after it has been fired.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional block diagram view of military devicesimulator 30 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Thisdevice 30 has a housing 32 in the shape of an Improvised ExplosiveDevice (IED). A gas generator 34 is located inside the housing. Thehousing 32 has a plurality of vents 35 for venting gas generated by thegas generator 34. An electronic actuator 36 sends an actuation signal tothe gas generator 34 to release gas. An audio chamber 38 may be attachedto the gas generator 34 to create a sound like an explosive detonating.The audio chamber 38 may be part of the vents 35 in one embodiment.Since gas is being forced through the vents 35, they can be shaped toresonant to provide a noise similar to an explosive.

The gas generator 34 may be a squib 40 in one embodiment. A squib 40 isa miniature explosive device that generators a large amount of gas in avery short period of time. Squibs are often used to power airbags incars. Alternatively, the gas generator may be a compressed gas. In oneembodiment, the gas generator is a molecule that is compressed to apressure where it is a liquid. When the gas generator housing is openedto the atmosphere the liquid molecule quickly becomes a gas. Examples ofmolecules or atoms that can be used are carbon dioxide, nitrogen,helium, argon or a combination of these inert gases. In anotherembodiment the gas generator contains a combination of fluid fuels, withfluid oxidizers, liquid monopropellants, and liquid or gaseous materialwhich dissociate in a rapid exothermic reaction. The fluid fuels mayinclude hydrogen and hydrocarbons, such as gasoline, kerosene, C₁-C₈paraffinns, ethers, esters, alcohols and butanes. The fluid oxidizer maybe nitrous oxide or air. An electronic initiator ignites the fluid fueland oxidizer.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a non-pyrotechnic explosive device50 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The device 50 hasa housing 52 in the shape of a hand grenade. Inside the housing 52 is amicrocontroller 54, which senses when a handle 55 is released. A squib56 receives an ignition signal from the microcontroller 54. The squib 56is held in a chamber 58 inside the housing 52. A powder 60 is containedin a sack 62 inside a second chamber 64. In one embodiment, the sack ismade of paper. The squib chamber 58 is in communication with the powderchamber 64. The powder chamber 64 is in communication with a pluralityof openings 66 in the housing 52. In one embodiment, the powder 60 alsocontains a substance 68 the smell like cordite or other expendedexplosive. The device 50 may also contain an audio amplifying structure70. In one embodiment, the device 50 has a plurality of capacitancesensors 72. These capacitance sensors 72 determine if a person isholding or near the device.

In operation, when the handle 55 is released this is sensed by themicrocontroller 54. The microcontroller 54 waits a predetermined amountof time between the release of the handle 55 and sending an initiationsignal to the squib 56. Note the initiation signal is not sent by themicrocontroller 54 if the capacitance sensors 72 detect a person is tooclose to the device. This prevents the device 50 from detonating untilthe device 50 is a safe distance from people. When the squib 56 receivesthe initiation signal, the squib 56 starts a chemical reaction thatproduces a large quantity of gas in a short period of time. Theexpanding gas pushes on the powder sack 62 until it breaks causing thepowder 60 to be propelled out of the opening 66. The expanding gas alsointeracts with the audio amplifying structure 70 to create the sound ofan explosive device. In one embodiment, the delay time from the releaseof the handle and the sending of the initiation signal is three seconds.In another embodiment, the time between the release of the handle 55 andthe sending of the initiation signal is random, between two and fiveseconds in one embodiment. The device 50 may be reused by replacing thesquib and the powder 60. All the other components are unharmed bydetonation of the device 50.

FIG. 4 is across sectional view of a non-pyrotechnic explosive apparatus80 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 80has a housing 82 in the shape of an artillery shell or mortar. Theapparatus 80 has a trigger system 84, which includes a pressure sensor86 in this embodiment. The trigger system 84 sends an actuation signalto the light producing system 88. The light producing system 88 strobesa plurality of lights 90 attached to the housing 82. In one embodiment,the lights are strobed at six hertz for a predetermined period of timeafter receiving the actuation signal and then turned off. A gasgenerator 92 is synchronized with the light producing system 88. The gasgenerator 92 is in communication with a plurality of vents 94 in thehousing 82. In one embodiment, the lights are white light LEDs (LightEmitting Devices).

Thus there has been described a system that can be used to simulate theeffects of numerous explosive devices, by minor changes to the housingand the internal structure of the housing. The system can be reused,which reduces the cost of operating the system. The system isnon-pyrotechnic in all embodiments that use powder and when the gasgenerator is a compressed gas. The system provides a realistic smell ofan explosive device that has detonated.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light ofthe foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace allsuch alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-pyrotechnic explosive device simulator,comprising: a housing having a shape of an explosive device; a gasgenerator enclosed in the housing; a powder contained in the housing;and a plurality of vents in the housing, wherein the powder is ejectedfrom the plurality of vents when the gas generator expels gas.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, further including a cordite odor substance added tothe powder.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the powder is contained ina sack.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the sack is made of paper. 5.The device of claim 2, further including an electronic actuator.
 6. Thedevice of claim 5, wherein the gas generator includes a squib, the squibreceiving an actuation signal from the electronic actuator.
 7. Thedevice of claim 5, wherein the device is reusable.
 8. A non-pyrotechnicexplosive device simulator, comprising: a housing; a gas generatorattached to the housing; a powder contained in the housing; anelectronic actuator controlling the gas generator; and a plurality ofopening in the housing, wherein the powder is ejected from the pluralityof openings when the gas generator expels gas.
 9. The device of claim 8,wherein the electronic actuator is a microcontroller.
 10. The device ofclaim 8, wherein the housing is having a shape of an improvisedexplosive device.
 11. The device of claim 8, further including an odorsubstance added to the powder.
 12. The device of claim 11, furtherincluding an audio amplifying structure.
 13. The device of claim 12,wherein the plurality of openings are part of the audio amplifyingstructure.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the gas generatorincludes a squib.
 15. The device of claim 8, further including a safetysystem inside the housing.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein thesafety system senses a capacitance.